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Guk crosses cautiously, hoping his light weight will not burden the plank too much. Considering the secret passage, he is content with letting more brawny companions go first, though his curiosity renders him restless.
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Making his way into the wine cellar, Aziraphale looks at the bottles with interest, looking to see if any of the fine vintages come from his homeland in Razmir. Once the passage opens, the 'Angel' immediately snaps to attention, his hands coming up as if in a sword stance, though they are both empty.
"Mayhaps this is the reason behind so many of us gathering here? This is nought but a cunning test?"
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As Jec enters the secret chamber, he stumbles into a large spider's web stretched across the room. As he tugs at the sticky strands, two man sized spiders silently creep from the cracks on either side of the room and converge on him. The large orange spider to his right sinks its fangs past Jec's armor and delivers a nasty bite! Thankfully his hardy constitution is able to withstand the spider's venom.
Turn Order, bold may post
Orange spider
Zahira
Aziraphale
Guk
Stonelance
Ser Jec (entangled, 8/13 HP)
Brown Spider
Stonegrin
Ser Jec is entangled. He cannot move as the web is anchored to the floor and ceiling, and takes a -2 penalty to attack rolls and a -4 penalty to Dexterity. Escaping is a standard action, DC 12 Escape Artist check or DC 12 Strength check to burst the webs. Ser Jec gets a -4 penalty to burst the webs, but he can use the walls and floor as leverage for a +5 bonus to the Escape Artist or Strength check. The webs have 2 HP and DR 5/-.
DC 6 Knowledge (nature) checks can be used to gain useful facts about giant spiders.
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The brown spider lunges at Zahira as she passes, but its fangs just slide off her armor. Stonelance's crossbow bolt flies true and buries itself in the orange spider's eye. It screeches and flails as thick spider blood oozes out.
Turn Order, bold may post
Orange spider (taken 16 damage)
Zahira
Aziraphale
Guk
Stonelance
Ser Jec (entangled, 8/13 HP)
Brown Spider
Stonegrin
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Peering into the gloom, Aziraphale can hardly see between his allies and the bottles but he can hear the tell tale sounds of fangs meeting flesh. Seeing Stonelance's well placed bolt he nods to the man before darting forwards, to draw the spiders attention from Jec.
With pure will, a blade formed of lightning appears in his right hand, slashing at the creature.
"Perish foul creature and assault us no longer!
for
for
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Aziraphale curses and the enclosing web around him and tries to use his enhanced dexterity to avoid the worst of the web and slip free.
The 'Angel' manges to twist free of the web and steps closer to the spider, pinning the creature into the corner. A single sword of salvation is brought forth and the Angel strikes out at the beast once more.
for
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Guk remains befuddled for a moment. Having never been in an actual fight before, he doesn't know what to do. Suddenly, the metaphorical lightbulb lights his mind with a bright new idea. As he beholds the pommel of Jec's sword, ripe for the taking, the grippli puts all his strength and effort towards the drawing of the weapon. The long blade proves cumbersome, and Guk has to wield it with both hands. He strikes at the web, trying to free his companion, but the sheer weight of the blade is enough to swing past the web without even scratching it.
"Don't worry, Sir Jec, I've got this! I think... *ribbit*"
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Unfortunately Guk's small frame isn't able to get the sword through the thick webbing, but Ser Jec manages to wiggle into a better position and breaks free. Meanwhile, Stonelance and Stonegrin dispatch the remaining spider.
Heryn pops her head in to the tunnel, "Whew, you certainly are capable. Be sure to remind me next time you're here, that's definitely worth some more free drinks."
Looking around, there's the desk, and two giant spider corpses in case someone has some anger that needs expressed.
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Aziraphale shrugs his broad shoulders at the tavern keeper's praise, then looks down to see the blood and bruises on his body. Muttering a curse, the 'Angel' of Razmir begins to chant a mantra, as he does so his body begins to heal of it's own accord, the small wounds slowly closing over the next minute.
"Hmm, I wonder if perhaps these papers were what we were sent to seek? Mayhaps they are of great importance to the society."
He then begins to seatch through them with the others, looking for anything pertinent.
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It seems the chamber was used by Selmius Foster as a personal study. Many of the early Pathfinder's exploits are chronicled here, but as you read through the notes and journals, one item stands out. Foster writes of a matter he was was working on before his ill-fated trip to Bhopan. Appended to the letter is an addition by Foster's assistant Adolphus, detailing some further work on the issue.
While most of this information will no doubt already be in the hands of fellow Society members, there is a personal matter which I have left contained within. Events over the past decade have led me to suspect a fellow agent of hoarding her knowledge and not submitting it for review. This woman, a surprisingly sensible gnome by the name of Eylysia, has partaken of almost as many missions as I, yet she reports only a third of what I have brought to light. In order to ensure knowledge is not concealed, I have begun an investigation into Eylysia and her activities here in Absalom, hoping to find her hidden repository of stored knowledge.
Thus far, I have come across two promising leads. The first is Eylysia’s contact with a well-known stonemason by the name of Arkath. I had the displeasure of meeting this fellow in his dying days, when he promised to take any secrets he held to his grave. He was interred in a mausoleum in the Ivy District weeks after our encounter, though I still believe there is more to his connection with Eylysia.
Another lead is Eylysia’s friendship with a member of the Arcanamirium, a local wizard’s guild. The fellow is a gnome by the name of Fimbrik. All of my attempts to speak with him have failed, though I have noted his home address in my files for follow-up. It is my sincere hope that I am able to return to discover what Eylysia has hidden, but should I not, I entrust this to my assistant Adolphus or any brave Society agents who come across my unfinished work.
Selmius Foster
My initial follow-up of Foster's investigation into Arkath involved hiring several diviners to discern the veracity of Selmius's leads. It appears the stonemason was quite honest with my mentor; there is some key clue buried with him in his mausoleum.
I have watched Eylysia for many months since my return, and I have caught her making additions to the Wall of Names - the memorial built in honor of my departed mentor. She has added three names, none of which are true Pathfinders and are likely worth investigating. Their names are:
~ Doulgonlir Caskmail
~ Hollis 'Evil Grin' Thorne
~ Karina Clamp
Events are in motion that will soon take me to Quantium, after which I will be unable to conclude this investigation. I leave this hidden under the Wounded Wisp, in hopes that one day I might return, or that the Society endures its current woes and a future generation of agents can take up this cause.
Adolphus
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Guk bows to the knight as he returns the heavy sword to him. "I'm ashamed I couldn't be of more help. I'll do better next time!"
The grippli's already large eyes widen as they skim through the Pathfinder agents' findings. "This is most extraordinary! *Ribbit* This is a chance to explore a part of history that few can touch - the Society's history! *Ribbit* We could return to Dreng, but I suspect he knew what would happen and sent us here with a specific purpose. Why not follow these three leads - the Wall of Names, the mausoleum, and this Fimbrik - by ourselves? We could show initiative, I think. Explore, Report, Cooperate. Our very motto suggests we explore first, then report. Agreed?"
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His wounds sealed, Aziraphale helps his companions gather the needed notes to protect them from the rain. The angel nods and begins to make his way out of the wine cellar.
"Yes, let us explore the meanings ourselves and prove our worth to the society. You wish to talk to the Gnome? Fine by me, but do we know where he resides?"
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Foster's notes list Fimbrik's address in the Wise Quarter, and it doesn't take long to find it. The house is an impressive stone structure that is rather fitting for an eccentric wizard. A brick step leads up to the door, which has a rusty old lock. Numerous newspapers are piled around the porch and crammed into the thin slot in the door. Each of the rounded corners of the building has a large window, allowing you to peek inside if wanted.
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Guk, you find something interesting peeking through the windows. Looking through the south east window, you see an elderly gnome dressed in a rounded cap, holding a jeweled cane while he peruses his book collection. And once you look through the north east window, you see the same gnome reading a book in an armchair.
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Aziraphale looks oddly at the Grippli as they bounce around the house peering through the windows. Shaking their head in disbelief, the 'Angel' strides up to the door, careful not to dislodge the piles of newspapers.
"Hopping around someone's home is not the best way to gain audience, things in civilization work differently to a swamp."
Aziraphale raps his knuckles sharply on the door and waits for it to be answered.